Sardar Akhtar


Sardar Akhtar was an Indian cinema actress of Hindi/Urdu films. She started her acting career on the Urdu stage. Her early films were with Saroj Movietone, where she did a majority of stunt roles. She came into prominence as the washer-woman in the role of Rami Dhoban in Sohrab Modi's Pukar. As a woman seeking justice for the death of her husband, it was a breakthrough role for her. A popular song she sang in the film was "Kaheko Mohe Chhede". Her career defining role was as a "peasant woman" deserted by her husband, in Mehboob Khan's Aurat, a role later made famous by Nargis in Mehboob's remake Mother India.
She acted in over 50 films in a career span of 1933–45. Akhtar married Mehboob Khan in 1942, whom she had met when he cast her in Ali Baba. She stopped after completing films like Fashion and Rahat. She resumed as a character actress in the 1970s when she acted in O. P. Ralhan's Hulchul.

Early life

Akhtar was born in 1915, in Lahore, British India. She started as a supporting "dancer-artiste" and commenced her film career by acting in stage plays produced by Madan Theatres Ltd.

Career

Akhtar started her career at Saroj Movietone doing what were then termed as "stunt" films. She acted in films directed by A. P. Kapoor like Roop Basant, Id Ka Chand, Malti Madhav, all in 1933. Some of the action films she did at Saroj were directed by J. P. Advani, including Gafil Musafir, Johare-Shamsheer, Shah Behram and Tilasimi Talwar. In 1934 she acted in Hothal Padmini directed by Kanjibhai Rathod.
In 1935, Akhtar acted in Delhi Express, directed by Madanrai Vakil. In 1936, she starred with K. L. Saigal in the farcical-comedy Karodpati. The comedy was a rare departure from Saigal's normally serious films. Akhtar played a masked avenger in Vijay Bhatt-directed State Express. It was stated to be a "successful film," doing well at the box office. The main draw was a "performing gorilla" and Sardar Akhtar's songs and performance. It was cited by Rajadhyaksha and Willemen as one of the "best stunt films" from Bhatt, who normally made mythologicals.
In 1939, Sardar Akhtar was cast because of her natural earthy looks in Sohrab Modi's Pukar as the washer-woman Rami Dhoban. Hers husband has been accidentally killed by an arrow shot by Empress Nur Jahan. Rami demands justice of Emperor Jehangir, evoking his tenet "A life for a life". Akhtar's role was appreciated by the public and the critics; it was a turning point in her career — from doing stunt roles to big production socials.
1940 had Akhtar working in Ali Baba. The film was directed by Mehboob Khan, someone Akhtar had been trying to meet for some time. It co-starred Surendra and Waheedan Bai and turned out to be a commercial success. A relationship started between Mehboob and Akhtar during the making of Ali Baba, with the two marrying in 1942.
Aurat, directed by Mehboob Khan for National Studios, is referred to as "one of the best classics of Hindi cinema". Described as a "powerful predecessor of Mother India", The role displayed Akhtar's acting potential fully and her "interpretation of the mother figure" was lauded. Akhtar described it as her favourite film performance.
Pooja in 1940 was termed as a "thundering success" by Baburao Patel in his review. Produced by National studios and directed by A. R. Kardar, the review title described it as "Kardar Produces The Best Picture Of The Year". The story, inspired by The Old Maid by Warner Pictures, was about sisters played by Akhtar and Sitara Devi. Akhtar was commended for performing her role with sincerity.

Personal life

Sardar Akhtar was the older sister of Bahar Akhtar, also an aspiring actress. During their debut together opposite A. R. Kardar in his film Qatil Katar, Bahar and Kardar eloped. Production was halted and, ultimately, Bahar stopped working in films.
Akhtar met Mehboob Khan during the making of Alibaba and the two entered into a relationship, which culminated in their marriage in 1942. This was Mehboob's second marriage.
Though Akhtar stopped working after 1945, she was, as stated by Mehboob, his inspiration for making films like Aan, Andaz, and the remake of Aurat: Mother India. Fond of watching films, her favourite actors were Bette Davis, Norma Shearer, Vivien Leigh, and Charles Boyer.

Death

Sardar Akhtar died on 2 October 1986, following a heart attack in New York City, US. Mehboob and Akhtar had no children.
After Mehboob's death in 1964, she became his legal heir with shares in Mehboob Studios and three flats. The property went into litigation once Akhtar's nephew made forgery claims regarding Akhtar's will. The two-decade old dispute is still pending.

Filmography

List:
YearFilmDirectorCo-starsStudio
1933Id Ka ChandA. P. Kapoor Ashraf Khan, ZebunisaSaroj Movietone
1933Malati MadhavA. P. KapoorAshraf Khan, Gulab, ZebunisaSaroj Movietone
1933Roop BasantA. P. KapoorAshraf Khan, Gulab, ZebunisaSaroj Movietone
1933Naqsh-e-Sulemani a.k.a. Tilasmi TaveezA. P. KapoorJani Babu, ZebunisaSaroj Movietone
1933Husn Ka GulamJ. P. Advani Ashraf Khan, Gulab, ZebunisaParamount
1934Johar-e-Shamsheer a.k.a. The Feats Of The SwordJ. P. AdvaniNissar, Jani Babu ZebunisaSaroj Movietone
1934Gafil Musafir a.k.a. Careless TravellerJ. P. AdvaniAshraf Khan, Ghulam Mohammed, PrabhashankarSaroj Movietone
1934Tilasmi Talwar a.k.a. Magic Sword a.k.a. Shaif-e-SulemaniNanubhai DesaiAshraf Khan, Zebunisa, GulabSaroj Movietone
1934Hothal PadminiKanjibhai RathodAshraf Khan, ZebunisaSaroj Movietone
1934AjamilA. R. KabuliAshraf Khan, ZebunisaSaroj Movietone
1934DilaraJ. P. AdvaniAshraf khan Zebunisa, EbrahimHindustan Cine
1934Jaan NissarKanjibhai RathodSultana, Jani Babu, ZebunisaSarla Cinetone
1935Shah BehramJ. P. AdvaniZebunisa, Master Nissar, Dulari, Jani BabuSaroj Movietone
1935Farebi DuniyaJ. P. AdvaniZebunisa, Navin YagnikGolden Eagle
1935Misar Ka KhazanaRajhansZebunisa, Master Nissar, Ganpat Bakre, Jani BabuSaroj Movietone
1935Dharma Ki Devi a.k.a. Religious WomanHiren BoseKumar, feroze Dastur, Hari Shivdasani, Rafiq GhaznaviEastern Arts
1935Delhi ExpressMadanrai VakilZohra, Ghulam Farid, Master Mohan, Roshan AraRoshanare
1936Piya Ki Jogan a.k.a. Purchased BrideHiren BosePramod Chandra, Asha Lata, Krishna KumariGolden Eagle
1936PratimaRam DaryaniNazir, Gope, Indu KumariDaryani Productions
1936Prem BandhanC. N. LalaSitara Devi, Benjamin, PutliGolden Eagle
1936Sangdil SamajRam DaryaniNazir, Gope, Padma Devi, Omkar Devaskar, Hari ShivdasaniDaryani Productions
1936Sher Ka PanjaDwarka KhoslaNazir, Gope, Yasmin, Omkar Devaskar, Hari Shivdasani, Asha Lata, GopeEastern Arts
1936Fida-E-Watan a.k.a. The PatriotG. R. SethiIndu Rani, GopeDaryani Productions
1936Karodpati a.k.a. MillionaireHemchandra ChunderK. L. Saigal, Pahari Sanyal, Trilok Kapoor, MolinaNew Theatres Ltd
1937Bismil Ki ArzooB. S. HigleRamola, Noor Jehan, Mirza, TaraU. P. Cinetone
1937Khwab Ki DuniyaVijay BhattJayant, Shirin Banu, Umakant, Madhav MarathePrakash Pictures
1937His HighnessBalwant BhattJayant, Gulab, ShirinPrakash Pictures
1938State ExpressVijay BhattJayant, Shirin Banu, UmakantPrakash Pictures
1938PoornimaBalwant BhattRanjit, Gulab, Badriprasad, Noor Jehan, UmakantPrakash Pictures
1939PukarSohrab ModiChandra Mohan, Naseem Banu, Sohrab ModiMinerva Movietone
1940Ali BabaMehboob KhanSurendra, Wahidan, Ghulam MohammedSagar Movietone
1940Aurat a.k.a. WomanMehboob KhanSurendra, Yakub, JyotiNational Studios
1940BharosaMehboob KhanChandra Mohan, Naval, SheelaMinerva Movietone
1940Pooja a.k.a. WorshipA. R. KardarSitara Devi, Zahur Raja, JyotiNational Studios
1941AasraLalit MehtaHusn Banu, Amar, VeenaNational Studios
1941Nai RoshniChimankant GandhiHusn Banu, Meena Kumari, KanhaiyalalNational Studios
1942Ghar SansarVishnu VyasJehanara Kajjan, Mazhar Khan, NazirSunrise Pictures
1942Uljhan a.k.a. The DilemmaN. R. AcharyaMazhar Khan, Anjali DeviAcharya Art
1942Phir MilengeSohrab ModiMeena Shorey, K. N. Singh, Sohrab ModiMinerva Movietone
1942Duniya Ek Tamasha a.k.a. The World's A ShowDwarka KhoslaUrmila, Gope, W. M. KhanSaubhagya Pictures
1943MasterjiKrishna GopalHarish, Veena Kumari, PandeRaja Movies
1943FashionS. F. HasnainChandra Mohan, Sabita Devi, Bhudo AdvaniFazil Bros.
1945RahatRamnik DesaiJairaj, Indira, KanhaiyalalKirti Pictures
1971HulchulO. P. RalhanKabir Bedi, Sonia Sahni, HelenO. P. Ralhan
1973Bandhe HaathO. P. GoyalAmitabh Bachchan, Mumtaz, Kumud ChhuganiO. P. Ralhan